Despite the bad press in the international media, Nepal registered yet another robust growth in tourist numbers in September compared to last year. The 23,754 foreign visitors who arrived by air showed an increase of 25 percent from the same month a year ago. Both non-Indian and Indian arrivals grew by 26 percent and 20 percent respectively last month. Although tourism is not immune to political crises in the country, there are indications that travellers are paying attention to other factors as well: Hotel Dwarika's, Kathmandu Guest House and Hotel Yak and Yeti have been listed among the top fifty Asian Hotels. Nepal is also ranked as the first eco-tourism destination for British tourists-their numbers are up by 39 percent-in a survey conducted by the World Tourism Organisation. So far, the figures from the Department of Immigration show an overall 15 percent increase in the nine months till September 2003 compared to the same period last year.